All The Babes
Biography
About Molly Brodak
Molly Brodak, who died at 39 on March 8, 2020, in Atlanta, Georgia, was an American poet, memoirist, and writer. Her poetry collection A Little Middle of the Night appeared in 2010, and her memoir Bandit: A Daughter's Memoir followed in 2016, exploring her complex relationship with her father, a bank robber. She taught creative writing and appeared as a contestant on The Great American Baking Show. She was known in literary circles for introspective, often dark work, and she struggled with depression from childhood.
Her death was ruled a suicide by gunshot, confirmed by reliable sources such as Wikipedia, The New York Times obituary, and statements from her husband, writer Blake Butler, with whom she lived in Atlanta. She left a suicide note taped to the door and another on her person, and accounts describe her going to a field, lying down, and shooting herself. Butler later detailed aspects of their marriage and her life in his controversial 2023 memoir Molly, which sparked debate in literary communities about privacy, grief, and posthumous portrayal.
The author's legacy rests on two books that examine family, memory, and trauma. She taught creative writing, bringing her literary sensibility to students. Her appearance on a popular baking show revealed a lighter side, a contrast to the darkness in her writing. Her death at a relatively young age cut short a career marked by sharp observation and emotional honesty. The memoir about her father remains a notable work in the genre of parental memoirs. Her husband's subsequent book added another layer to her story, though it drew criticism. She is remembered for her craft and her candor.
- DiedSunday 8th of March 2020 (age 39)
- BirthplaceUnited States
- SexualityStraight
Frequently asked
What is the title of her poetry collection and when was it published?
Her poetry collection, A Little Middle of the Night, was published in 2010.
What was the subject of her memoir Bandit?
Bandit: A Daughter's Memoir, published in 2016, explored her relationship with her father, who was a bank robber.
Besides writing, what other public appearance is she known for?
She appeared as a contestant on The Great American Baking Show.
Who was she married to at the time of her death and what did he write about her?
She was married to writer Blake Butler, who published a controversial 2023 memoir titled Molly about their marriage and her life.
Did you know
- Her memoir Bandit, about her bank-robber father, was published in 2016, six years after her poetry collection A Little Middle of the Night.
- She was both a poet and a memoirist, and she also taught creative writing.
- Her husband Blake Butler's 2023 memoir Molly sparked debate about privacy and posthumous portrayal.
- She lived in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband at the time of her death.
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